Lab Tips

#1. Don't mistake dry ice for regular ice. Trying to pick up dry ice will instantly turn your hand a deathly looking white. Fortunately the searing pain follows soon after and your brain figures out this is not something that should be in your hand. FYI, liquid nitrogen has the same effect on skin, however, it evaporates as quickly as it spills on your hands...so the white spots only last 2-5 sec. Preferable indeed.

#2. If you have a choice between spilling methanol or hydrochloric acid on your skin, choose the methanol. Sure, it can easily diffuse into your blood stream and cause liver damage. The more important part is that you can immediately feel its cooling effects on your skin and can rinse off right away. You don't notice the HCl until your skin starts melting off and you look like the Joker's skinless cousin.

#3. Be sure to show appreciation to your boss when he handles the estrogen inhibitor.
Jorge: Here Nina, let me handle the estrogen inhibitor.
Me: Gee, thanks Boss, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
Jorge: I hope you don't think I'm being sexist.
Me: Jorge, when dealing with estrogen inhibitors you definitely get a free pass. I'd do the same for you if we were dealing with testosterone inhibitors (we never do of course).

Be on the look out for more helpful and slightly amusing (at least to myself) lab tips.